How Do I Report Work Safety Concerns in Chicago?

If you’re concerned about workplace safety in Chicago, you have every right to make these concerns known. But who should you speak to? Should you simply remain silent and carry on, or do you have a responsibility to speak up? If you’re recovering from injuries caused by a possible safety violation and you’re not sure how to proceed, consider speaking with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Chicago.

You Can Report Your Concerns to Your Employer

The most obvious first step is to voice your concerns directly to your employer. This might seem like a daunting prospect, especially if you’re worried about being fired. You might also worry about other types of “retaliation,” such as demotion or unfavorable assignments.

You should know that Illinois has strong whistleblower laws that protect you in this situation. You can report safety violations to your direct employer without worrying about being fired or retaliated against in any way. If your employer retaliates against you, you can sue them for violating whistleblower laws.

Consider making your report in writing. An email or a text message is a solid choice because you can use these documents as evidence later on. Avoid face-to-face conversations or phone calls, as your employer could always claim that these discussions never happened.

Report Your Concerns to the Illinois Department of Labor

You can also submit a form to the Illinois Department of Labor. The Department of Labor has a convenient online page that allows you to report safety concerns. You might want to take this step if your employer seems unwilling to address the safety issues after your initial report.

Consider providing any evidence that might be useful to the Department of Labor. This might include the email you sent to your employer, their replies, and photographs of the safety issue in question. Be aware that the Department of Labor could take months to reply to you.

Contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Another option is to contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Like the Department of Labor, OSHA has a convenient online page that allows you to report safety concerns. OSHA states that you should report the safety issue as soon as you become aware of it. If you’re not comfortable providing your name, you can make your complaint anonymously. However, anonymous reports do not benefit from whistleblower protection.

Consider Legal Action

While you wait for OSHA and the Department of Labor to reply, you might also want to consider legal action. Many safety violations make it possible to file direct lawsuits instead of relying on the workers’ compensation system. For example, you might have suffered injuries as a result of defective safety equipment.

Consider Speaking With a Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you’re recovering from injuries that you believe were caused by a safety violation, consider speaking with a Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer at Connolly Injury Law. Your lawyer can investigate the issue in more detail and determine whether your employer violated any regulations. By speaking up, you can potentially prevent other workers like you from suffering similar injuries.

Sources: 

osha.gov/workers/file-complaint

labor.illinois.gov/file-a-workplace-complaint.html